Supportive Leaves Policy Appeals

do you want help with your supportive leave appeal?

Downtown Legal Services may be able to help! DLS is a legal clinic with experience representing students. It is located on the University of Toronto campus and provides free legal services to students who qualify.

The Supportive Leaves Policy creates a process whereby the University may place a student on a mandatory leave of absence.  The policy is designed for use in exceptional circumstances where a student’s behaviour, due to serious mental health or other similar issues, either:

  1. Poses a risk of harm to self or others, or harm that involves substantial impairment of the educational experience of fellow students; or
  2. Prevents the student from engaging in the essential activities required to pursue an education at the University, notwithstanding accommodations and/or supportive resources made available to the student.

Appeal to the University Tribunal
 

The Student may appeal the decision of the Provost to the Senior Chair (or delegate), or the Associate Chair (or delegate) of the Discipline Appeals Board of the University Tribunal by filing a written notice of appeal, together with any submissions the Student wishes to be considered, within 20 business days of the Provost’s decision. The Provost may also make submissions in response to the appeal.

In the ordinary course, and unless otherwise ordered, the Provost or representative must provide to the chair hearing the appeal the complete record upon which the decision being appealed from was made. The balance of the process for the disposition of appeals must be determined by the Senior Chair (or delegate), or Associate Chair (or delegate) designated to hear the appeal.

The time limit for appealing may be extended by agreement between the Student and the Provost or by the decision of the Senior Chair (or delegate), or the Associate Chair (or delegate) where the Senior Chair (or delegate), or the Associate Chair (or delegate) are satisfied that neither party has been prejudiced by the delay.

While the decision is under appeal, the terms and conditions of the mandated Supportive Leave continue to apply.

The Senior Chair (or delegate), or the Associate Chair (or delegate) must hear and decide the appeal.

The decision of the Senior Chair (or delegate) or the Associate Chair (or delegate) is final.

At any time during the appeal process, the Student may elect to explore the possibility of a Voluntary Leave of Absence under a Divisional Policy, or in the absence of a Divisional Policy, this Policy. If the Voluntary Leave of Absence is agreed upon jointly by the Vice-Provost, Students, and the Student, the appeal of the Provost’s Decision must be discontinued.

do you want an easy way to understand the supportive leaves process?

Click below for an easy-to-understand flowchart illustrating the entire University-mandated leave process.